### Arc 4: **The Gathering Storm**
#### Chapter 9: **Kael's Countermove**
Kael leaned back in his opulent leather chair, the dim light from his desk lamp casting a menacing glow over his sharp features. His eyes were fixed on the screen in front of him, a live feed from the depot's security cameras. He rewound the footage for the third time, watching as Jae-min and Riho dismantled his team with surgical precision.
The door to his office creaked open, and a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped inside. His face was scarred, his eyes cold and calculating.
"Boss," the man said, his voice gravelly. "Our team failed at the depot. The data's gone."
Kael didn't look away from the screen. "I know, Dorian. I've been watching."
Dorian shifted uneasily. "What's the plan now? Should we send another team after them?"
Kael finally turned his gaze to Dorian, his lips curling into a thin smile. "No. Chasing them would be a waste of resources. Jae-min is playing the hero, but heroes always have weaknesses. We'll exploit his."
---
**Meanwhile, at Jae-min's Base**
The drive back to the safe house was tense. Riho sat in the passenger seat, her arms crossed and her expression unusually serious.
"What's wrong?" Jae-min asked, breaking the silence.
Riho glanced at him. "Kael isn't going to take this lying down. He's going to retaliate, and we need to be ready."
Jae-min tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "I know. That's why we have to analyze the data we stole. There's bound to be something in there we can use against him."
When they arrived at the safe house, Mia was waiting for them in the living room, her laptop open and a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. She looked up as they entered, her expression brightening.
"You're back! Did you get it?"
Jae-min held up the secure drive. "We got it."
Mia grinned. "Great. Let's see what we're dealing with."
---
**The Data Reveal**
The three of them gathered around Mia's laptop as she plugged in the drive. Files and folders filled the screen, their contents encrypted with layers of security.
"System, can you handle this?" Jae-min asked.
The system's holographic avatar appeared, her expression confident. "Decryption will take approximately five minutes. Please stand by."
Riho paced the room, her frustration evident. "I hate waiting. Feels like we're sitting ducks."
Mia smirked. "Relax, Riho. Let the tech do its thing."
As the decryption progressed, Jae-min couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. He glanced at the windows, double-checking the locks and blinds.
"Paranoia setting in?" Riho teased.
"Maybe," Jae-min admitted. "But I'd rather be paranoid than dead."
---
**Kael's Message**
Just as the decryption finished, Mia's laptop screen flickered. The files disappeared, replaced by a live video feed. Kael's face appeared, his expression smug.
"Jae-min," he said, his voice smooth and mocking. "Congratulations on your little victory. You're proving to be quite the thorn in my side."
Jae-min's jaw clenched. "Kael."
Kael chuckled. "Oh, don't look so angry. I admire your determination. But you've made one fatal mistake: you've underestimated me."
The screen shifted, showing a live feed of a young woman tied to a chair. Her face was bloodied, her expression defiant despite her injuries.
Riho's eyes widened. "That's Hana!"
Kael's voice continued, cold and calculating. "She's one of yours, isn't she? Brave little thing. But bravery only goes so far."
Jae-min's fists tightened. "Let her go, Kael."
Kael's smile widened. "Now, why would I do that? If you want her back, you'll come to me. Alone. No tricks, no backup. You have 24 hours."
The screen went black.
---
**The Plan**
Jae-min stood frozen, his mind racing. Riho slammed her fist on the table. "That bastard. We can't let him get away with this."
"We won't," Jae-min said, his voice steady. "But we can't rush in blind. We need a plan."
Mia nodded. "Kael wants you to come alone, but that doesn't mean we can't outsmart him. We'll need to figure out where he's holding Hana and set up an ambush."
Riho smirked. "Finally, something I can get behind. Let's make him regret ever crossing us."
As they began to strategize, Jae-min felt a surge of determination. Kael had made this personal, and he was about to find out just how dangerous Jae-min could be.
---
**To Be Continued...**